Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

Texas House Bill HR1717 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New	Differences
1	1	H.R. No. 1717
2	2
3	3
4	4	R E S O L U T I O N
5	5	WHEREAS, The death of Elna Ray Christopher of Austin on
6	6	April 25, 2023, at the age of 72, has deeply saddened the family and
7	7	friends of this admired woman; and
8	8	WHEREAS, Born in Brownfield on October 5, 1950, Elna
9	9	Christopher was the daughter of Bertie Lee Daniell Christopher and
10	10	Willie Ray Christopher; after graduating from Brownfield High
11	11	School, she earned a bachelor's degree in journalism with a
12	12	concentration in criminal justice from Southern Methodist
13	13	University; she was employed as a reporter at the Delta
14	14	Democrat-Times in Greenville, Mississippi, and the Santa Fe
15	15	Reporter in New Mexico before joining the Dallas Morning News in
16	16	1977; and
17	17	WHEREAS, Ms. Christopher's career took a new trajectory in
18	18	1982, when Jim Mattox hired her as a press secretary during his run
19	19	for Texas attorney general; following his election, she served as
20	20	chief of public information during both of his terms, and she acted
21	21	as spokesperson for his subsequent gubernatorial campaign; from
22	22	1991 to 1992, she was a partner at Image Makers Advertising & Public
23	23	Relations; and
24	24	WHEREAS, Returning to state government in 1994,
25	25	Ms. Christopher became director of marketing and program
26	26	development in the Texas General Land Office; she was later named
27	27	director of outreach programs, and she was instrumental in the
28	28	creation, development, and marketing of the Adopt-A-Map program; in
29	29	2003, she was hired as director of media relations for the Texas
30	30	Association of Counties; over the next 13 years in that role, she
31	31	worked with a coalition of city and county organizations to help
32	32	strengthen local control; throughout her career, she was known for
33	33	her generosity, as well as her toughness; when she retired in 2016,
34	34	members of the press lauded her grace, skill, and professionalism;
35	35	and
36	36	WHEREAS, Ms. Christopher shared a fulfilling marriage of
37	37	almost 25 years with Kevin Michael Kennedy until his death in 2013;
38	38	a woman of deep compassion, especially for members of the animal
39	39	kingdom, she loved horses, never missed a Triple Crown race series,
40	40	and took tender care of her two cats, Alfred and Satchel; her many
41	41	interests included movies, museums, fine dining, shopping at Neiman
42	42	Marcus, Major League Baseball, travel, historic Texas maps, and
43	43	music from Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett to the Rolling Stones; and
44	44	WHEREAS, Although Elna Christopher will be greatly missed,
45	45	she has left her family and friends with a wealth of memories that
46	46	they will forever treasure; now, therefore, be it
47	47	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
48	48	Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Elna Ray
49	49	Christopher and that sincere sympathy be extended to the members of
50	50	her family: to her sister, Donna Christopher Ingham; to her nephew,
51	51	Christopher Young Ingham; and to her other relatives and many
52	52	friends; and, be it further
53	53	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
54	54	prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of
55	55	Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Elna
56	56	Christopher.
57	57	Flores
58	58	______________________________
59	59	Speaker of the House
60	60	I certify that H.R. No. 1717 was unanimously adopted by a
61	61	rising vote of the House on May 25, 2023.
62	62	______________________________
63	63	Chief Clerk of the House